As hot air ballooning is very weather dependant, organising a group for a hot air balloon flight can have its problems, particularly if the passengers come from different locations. Because of the notorious British weather, an average balloon flight has around a 50/50 chance of flying.

Adventure Balloons was especially pleased when a group of 7 family members flew over London on only their second attempt. Members of the Padbury family had travelled from as far as Derbyshire for the Balloon flight, that sore them fly over Toothing and Mitcham where some of the family members had grown up in.

“It was a real trip down memory lane for all of the family” said Iris.

Also on the flight was Simone Giles who had travelled from Huddersfield and who became an adopted member of the Padbury family on the day.

After the flight the Padbury family and Simone were taken for breakfast at the Adventure Balloons popular watering hole, Monty’s in Coulsdon; this finished off a super day for all.

Fancy doing something totally different over the summer period? Then why don’t you work with the Home Counties leading hot air balloon passenger company, Adventure Balloons. Due to the seasonal limitations of ballooning, every year there are vacancies for full and part-time balloon crew members.

With bases in Hartley Wintney and Hemel Hempstead, Adventure Balloons covers balloon flights in Kent, Surrey, Oxford, Central London and throughout the surrounding areas.

To work as a member of the balloon crew you need to enjoy being in an outdoor environment, be physically fit and good with the public and landowners. Industrial training is provided by the Adventure Balloons team.

Experience with minibuses, 4 x 4’s and trailers as well as basic map reading would also be useful. Applicants must have at least three years clean licence and be over 25 years old.

To apply for a job or for more information visit the Adventure Balloons website.

Being one of the UK’s largest hot air balloon companies, flying passengers all over London and the Home Counties there are always some interesting stories that we are lucky enough to be a part of.

One of these interesting stories was from an Adventure Balloons flight from Farnham Park on the 14th of June.

Marion Beal turned up for her balloon flight with her husband Richard who had come to wave her off, but when a last minute space became available he could not resist taking the flight as well. After all, it’s much more fun to experience a hot air balloon ride with a loved one.

With only minutes till take off, the pair were left with the decision of what to do with their Jack Russell called Moet. Richard got the dog basket from the car and Moet was put into the balloon recovery vehicle for a front seat view with our balloon crew, who are appropriately named the balloon “retriever”.

After the flight Marion and Richard were reunited with Moet and returned to their car in Farnham Park in the Adventure Balloons minibus. An exciting morning for everyone involved, especially Moet.

Before a hot air balloon can take to the skies, the Adventure Balloons team has various safety checks to perform. Whilst the balloon crew are preparing the balloon the passengers have a safety briefing, where they can ask questions about any worries or concerns they have.

The balloon pilot will examine the weather, to ensure optimum flying conditions and will also select the best launch site. Visibility and wind speeds are key issues for a successful balloon flight and the launch site must have enough space to lay the balloon out and inflate it without any obstructions, like poles, power-lines or trees.

Every aspect of the hot air balloon is safe. The fabric used for the balloon envelope is a mixture of nylon and polyester and is very strong, and Nomex is used near the burners as it is flame resistant. The amount of fuel onboard is also taken into account, taking care not to overload the balloon as this could be hazardous.

The balloon basket that carries the pilot and passengers is also extremely safe. Woven from Kooboo and Palambang, these baskets are sturdy and lightweight, and are capable of absorbing the impact of a landing without sustaining any damage.

Adventure Balloons are committed to the safety and enjoyment for all of their hot air balloon passengers, and believes that flight safety comes first.

Adventure Balloons have several launch sites in North Hampshire, the launch sites are carefully chosen to ensure that the balloons will stay clear of Heathrow Airports Airspace. In addition to Heathrow Airport, it is also important to stay clear of Farnborough Airport, especially during the Farnborough Airshow.

North Hampshire launch sites are located at Down Grange and the War Memorial Park in Bassingstoke, Hartley Wintney and Old Basing. The Hampshire launch site used will depend on the wind speed and direction, plus any other operational factors on that day.

During a hot air balloon ride in Hampshire you may be able to see Tylney Hall Hotel, the Duke of Wellington’s Home (Stratfield Saye), Wellington Country Park and the Bramshill Police training college. Other sights you might see are villages such as Odiham, Crondall and Overton and small towns like Hook.

Book your hot air balloon ride over Hampshire with Adventure Balloons.

A hot air balloon flight is a great way to experience the beautiful countryside, towns and villages of Britain from a unique perspective. For many people a balloon flight is the highlight of their year, and a memory that can be cherished for years to come.

It’s always nice to receive customer feedback on their experiences of flying with us, and the Adventure Balloons team frequently enjoys reading customers emails of thanks, like the one below from Jan Bedford:

‘I was lucky enough to fly on Sunday 15 June and just wanted to express my thanks to Kim and the rest of the team for a wonderful experience. Despite feeling quite anxious earlier in the day, there was nothing scary about the flight, knowing I was in such capable hands. Unfortunately I made for the minibus to go home without appreciating that I had missed my chance to say goodbye and to thank Kim in particular, hence my Email.

Thanks again.

Jan Bedford’

To experience the sights and sounds of your very own hot air balloon ride, visit the Adventure Balloons website and book your unforgettable experience today.

Selecting your hot air balloon flight has never been easier with Adventure Balloons online date reservation. You can use this system to arrange a date for your balloon flight and also check availability before your purchase a voucher.

To use the date availability system you simply choose the location you wish to fly from, how many spaces you require and whether you want to your flight in the morning or the evening. Once this is done click the ‘Check Availability’ button and all flights which match your criteria are listed in date order.

To make a reservation and confirm the flight date, you must have either an Adventure Balloons or an Agency flight voucher. You can purchase a balloon voucher on our booking page and once that has been completed you will receive a provisional voucher number via email. This number can then be used to book your date through the Flight Date Reservation system.

Adventure Balloons, with its vast experience was the first hot air balloon passenger company to work with the Oxford City Council to permit balloon flights from Oxford’s City Parks. This not only enables passengers to see the spectacular spires of Oxford from a birds eye view, but also lets passengers experience the serene countryside in and around the Oxfordshire area during their flight.

Adventure Balloons now offers two launch sites for hot air balloon flights in Oxford, these are from South Park and Cutteslowe Park. South Park is normally used for evening flights and Cutteslowe Park for morning flights.

The annual Oxford Balloon Fiesta, which is usually held in May, is now run from Cutteslowe Park and Adventure Balloons attends this prestigious event every year.

There is a tradition in ballooning that after a hot air balloon flight the passengers and crew have a champagne reception. This longstanding tradition dates back to the 1780’s, when the first manned balloon flights were made.

On one of the earliest successful manned balloon flights the pilots took a bottle of champagne to enjoy during the flight. They did not get to drink it; instead they had to offer it as a gesture of goodwill to the farmer, whose field they had landed in. The champagne acted as an apology to the disruption of the land and grazing animals.

This tradition is still used to this day, but instead of giving it to the farmer the passengers and crew will toast champagne after the balloon flight. This is normally done after the balloon has been packed away and throughout the certificate presentation and picture viewing.

As anyone who has ever taken a ride in a hot air balloon will tell you, it is an unforgettable experience that will be remembered for years to come.

Just imagine climbing into the traditional wicker basket, the pilot checks that everyone is safely on board and then signals to the balloon crew that he is ready, and you’re off. The anchor ropes are untied and the balloon rises majestically into the morning or evening sky.

Calmly floating through the sky with a sense of peace and freedom, you look down and see the beautiful towns and breathtaking countryside as if it was a part of a model railway. After the flight you are returned to the ground safely and watch as the massive structure is deflated and packed away, whilst enjoying a glass of champagne. An unforgettable experience that is enjoyed from a unique perspective.

You can book your Hot Air Balloon flight quickly and easily through the Adventure Balloons website.